Neural factors behind age-related breathing problems
Official title: Neural mechanisms of respiratory dysfunction in old age
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11425689 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies why breathing control gets weaker with age and how nerve cells that control strong breaths deteriorate, aiming to improve airway clearance and reduce pneumonia risk in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $678,684 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG102716-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425689 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults experiencing age-related respiratory weakness who may be at higher risk for airway infections and pneumonia.
✕Less likely to help
Young, healthy individuals or patients without age-related respiratory weakness may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
As people age, their respiratory strength and the ability to cough effectively can decline, leading to higher risk of respiratory infections. The project will examine motor neurons that power the strongest respiratory muscles and how aging and cellular recycling processes affect them. Using advanced imaging, physiology tests, and behavioral readouts, the researchers will test whether impaired autophagy contributes to selective loss of high-force motor units in the diaphragm-related system. Findings could reveal targets to preserve or restore powerful airway clearance in older individuals. The work is conducted at Mayo Clinic Rochester under the lead investigator Carlos B. Mantilla over a multi-year period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify biological pathways to protect or restore strong respiratory muscle function in older adults, potentially reducing pneumonia risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in aging and motor neuron function suggest that autophagy and motor unit vulnerability are important, but this project tests a specific aging-related mechanism in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mantilla, Carlos B — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Mantilla, Carlos B
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.